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City to raise sewer rates

Jacksboro City Council voted to increase sewer rates at its meeting Monday.

At its April 11 meeting, the council heard a report from City Manager Mike Smith concerning applying for a Community Development Block Grant.

At the previous meeting, Smith said raising sewer rates even just a small amount would help improve the city’s chances of grant approval.

The increase will be 25 cents for residential customers and 50 cents for commercial customers.

“That’s not 25 cents per every however many gallons; that’s just 25 cents per bill,” Smith said.

Rev. Pamela Bell of Mt. Pigsah Church on Shelton Street addressed the council during the public comments portion of the meeting concerning the streets on Green Hill.

“When I was at City Hall today, they told me that the roads were so bad because of the rain, but we all know that’s not true,” Bell said. “I need to find out what is the game plan particularly for my two members, one being 90 years old. If she falls, that’s devastating because they don’t bounce back.

“The roads are so bad, you don’t want to walk around them much less drive down them because it’s almost like a roller coaster experience.”

She said there are drainage problems with one particularly large pool of standing water and ditches that need clearing causing flooding in one of her member’s yards.

“I just want resolution for my members. I want fair representation for that community,” Bell said. “We have dirt roads, they should pave them or at least once a year make sure they are resurfaced.”

Mayor Alton Morris said the city would have the streets department look into it.

The council also voted to send out requests for proposal for audit service.

Smith said the city has had the same auditor for six to eight years.

“We’re not unhappy. I just feel it’s good business practice to see if we can find as good or better service at a better rate,” he said.